Tie-down track fitting



y L 1956 E. c. ELSNER TIE-DOWN TRACK FITTING Filed July 12, 1952 IN V ENTOR.

Arroenrz/ United rates Patent O amass;

rrnnown TRACK rirrmo Edwin G Eisner, Glendale, Calii, assignor to GordonD. Brown, Beverly Hilts, t'jalit.

Application July 12., 1952, Serial No. 298,513

It) Cinirns. (Cl. res-36m The present invention relates generally toconnecting and fastening devices, and is more particularly concernedwith an attachment fitting of the type which may be quickly connectedand disconnected by simple manipulation.

Fittings of the herein described character are in general susceptible ofwide and general application, but are especially advantageous of use inconnection with aircraft, and provide means by which various objects maybe releasably secured in a desired position, and are particularlyadapted for cargo tie-down system where it is desired to secure thecargo to a floor or deck for shipment.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention in accordance with itsgeneral concepts proposes to provide a quick attachment fitting oftwo-part construction, which embodies a releasable part adapted to havea tie member secured thereto, and which is quickly engageable anddisengageable with a second part in the form of a track to which thefirst part is adapted to be secured at selected positions therealong.

One object of the herein described invention is to provide a fittingwherein the tie-down forces will be dis tributed over a considerablesection of the associated rail or track, rather than be applied at onepoint of the rail or track.

A further object is to provide a fitting which will be free from tilt orcanting under obliquely applied pulling forces, and which is not apt tobecome inadvertently disconnected from the associated rail or track dueto the application of the pulling forces.

Another object is to provide a fitting of simple construction, which maybe attached and detached to a complementary member such as a rail bysimple operation, and when so attached is efiiciently retained againstmove ment to a releasable position, but which by a simple manualoperation may be quickly and easily detached, when desired.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specification, wherein detailed description is for thepurpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitationsthereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrativepurposes only:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing the complementary parts of a fittingembodying the present invention, in interconnected relationship.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, to showthe cooperative relationship of certain elements of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially on line 33of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 4-4of Fig. 2.

Referring now generally to the drawings, for illustrative purposes theinvention is. shown in Fig. 1 as comprising complementary structures Aand B which are in accordance with the broad concepts of the inventionar- 2,743,684 li atented May 1, 1956 ice ranged to be connected anddisconnected quickly, and when connected provide a floor or deck fittingto which an associated member may be anchored. For example, theassociated fittings may form an anchor for cargo tiedowns, and the like.

More specifically, structure A may comprise an extruded or otherwiseformed track or rail structure having side flanges 10 and 11 whichproject toward each other and have spaced apart confronting edges 12 and13 respectively, these flanges mutually cooperating to form a T-slot 14including an entrance opening 15 which extends longitudinally throughoutthe rail or track length.

The edges 12 and 13 are provided with pairs of transversely aligned edgenotches 16 and 17 which are formed at spaced intervals longitudinally ofthe rail or track, so that in effect the material between the adjacentpairs of notches forms confronting projecting portions 18 and 19, thepurpose of which will subsequently become apparent.

The structure B, which forms a complementary part of the fitting, isdisclosed as comprising an elongate body 2 3, which may assume variousconfigurations, but is in this instance depicted as being elongate, andrather flat with rounded ends. The body 26 is constructed of suitablematerial, metal being shown as having the desired strength and rigidity.

The body 29 is provided with a plurality of studs 21 and 22 whichproject in the same direction from one surface of the body 20.

Each of the studs has an enlarged head portion 23 and an adjacent shankportion 24 of reduced diameter. The studs 2i and 22 are aligned on thelongitudinal central axis of the body 23 in symmetrically spaced apartrelation, the studs 21 being mounted adjacent the respective ends of thebody 23 and fixedly secured thereto, whereas the stud 22 is positionedcentrally between the end studs and is mounted with its shank portion 24supported in the body 20 for rotational as well as longitudinal orendfor-end movement, the opposite end of the stud 22 from its headportion being provided with an end piece 25' which may have threadedengagement with the stud and supports a loosely associated ring 26.

The studs 21 and 22 have head portions of a diameter which will enablepassage of the respective heads through a pair of the notches in and 17of the rail member, and the shank portions of these studs is of adiameter which will permit their movement to a position lying betweentransversely aligned projecting portions 18 and 19, in which latterposition the head portions will engage, upon slight pulling force beingapplied to the ring 26, with the under side of the tooth portions 1% andU associated with each stud. Due to the fact that the stud 22 isrotatably its f therein, it will be appreciated that a pulling forceinitially applied on the ring 26 will be transmitted to the projectingportions 18 and 19 which are associated with the stud 22, and that uponcontinued application of this force, the force will thereafter bedistributed between all of the studs, due to slight flexing or bendingof the adjacent rail structure. With such an arrangement, the structureB, upon releasing the pulling force, may be easily slid along the railto any desired position.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the body 20 has a recess 27 drilled orotherwise formed in the surface thereof on the side from which the studsproject. This recess has mounted therein a latching member 2% having acentral stem 29 mounted for reciprocable movement in the body Ell. Thelatching member is formed on diametrically opposite sides with arcuatenotches 3i) and 31 for engaging the adjacent wall surfaces of the shankportions of the adjacent stud 21 and adjacent stud 22, so as to retainthe latching member against rotation and assist in its guiding movementinto a seated position in recess 27 or a position wherein it projectsbeyond the adjacent surface of the body 26, as shown in Fig. 2. Thelatching memher is biased towards the latter position by means ofdiametrically positioned coiled springs 32-32, these springs havingtheir body engaging ends seated in suitable shallow recesses 33-43.

Biased movement of the latching member 28 to latching position isarrested by means of a digitally engageable member 34 which is securedto the end of stem 29 on the opposite side of the body from the headedportion 23 thereof. it will be appreciated that by exerting a pull onthe member 34, the latching member 23 may be moved into the recess 2"!"against the spring action, in which position the latch member will bereleased. Upon release of the latching member, the body 24? may beshifted to a position which permits separation of structures A and B bypassage of the head portions 23 of the respective studs through thealigned associated pairs of notches 16 and 17.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific form or forms shown or usesmentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; a central studslidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of thecentral stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs havingan end head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said bodysurface on the side of said studs; latch means including a membersupported for movement to a position within said recess and a positionprojecting therefrom or said body surface; means resiliently biasingsaid in l. toward said latter position; and means for applying a pullingforce to said central stud.

A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; t central studslidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of thecentral stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs havingan end head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said bodysurface on the side of said studs; latch means including a membersupported for guiding movement on two of said studs to a position withinsaid recess and a position projecting therefrom beyond said bodysurface; and means resiliently biasing said member toward said latterposition.

3. A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; a central studslidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of thecentral stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs having ahead portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said body surface onthe side of said studs; latch means including a member supported formovement to a position within said recess and a position projectingtherefrom beyond said body surface; means resiliently biasing saidmember toward said latter position; and digitally engageable meansconnecting with said member for manually moving said member into saidrecess.

4. A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; a central studslidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of thecentral stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs havingan end head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said bodysurface on the side of said studs; latch means including a membersupported for movement to a position within said recess and a positionprojecting therefrom beyond said body surface; and means resilientlybiasing said member toward said latter position.

5. A fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality ofprojections carried by said body adapted for insertion into an elongateT-slot formed by spaced flanges of a complementary rail member andhaving spaced notches for the passage of said projections, said dprojections being engageable at spaced points with said flanges uponrelative movement to a predetermined position; and a spring latchbetween two of said projections for releasably engaging at least one ofsaid flanges at said predetermined position.

6. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including arail having lateral flanges with spaced confronting edges andcooperating to form a longitudinally ext nding T-slot, said edges havingtransversely aligned f pairs of edge opening notches at spaced intervalsalong said rail; and a second part including an elongate body; a centralstud swivelled in said body, and fixed end studs on opposite sides ofsaid central stud, each of said studs having an end head portion and anadjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being so spaced theadportions may be inserted through seprs of said notches to position saidbody against and enable movement of the body to a in in which the headportions engage portions of said flanges lying between said pairs ofnotches; a spring biased member movable into one of said pair of notchesat said position for releasably latchingly securing said head portionsagainst disengagement movement with respect to said portions of saidflanges; and means for applying a pulling load on said central stud,whereby said force is initially applied to the first part through saidtil stud prior to its being distributed to said end 7. A two-partfastening device, comprising: a first part including a rail havinglateral flanges with spaced contron edges and cooperating to form alongitud tally e2 ending T-slot, said edges having transversely alignedfacing pairs of edge opening notches at spaced intervals along saidrail; and a second part including an elongate body; a plurality ofspaced studs projecting from said body, each of said studs having an endhead portion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studsbeing so spaced that their head portions may be inserted throughseparate pairs of said notches to position said body against saidflanges and enable movement of the body to a position in which the headportions engage portions of said flanges between said pairs of notches;a spring biased member movable into one of said pair of notches at saidposition for releasably latching said head portions againstdisengagement movement with respect to said portions of said flanges;and a digitally engageable member on the opposite side of said body fromsaid studs for manually actuating said member to a released position.

8. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including arail having lateral flanges with spaced confronting edges andcooperating to form a longitudinally extending T-slot, said edges havingtransversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches at spacedintervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body;a plurality of spaced studs projecting from said body, each of saidstuds having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduceddiameter, said studs being so spaced that their head portions may beinserted through separate pairs of said notches to position said bodyagainst said flanges and enable movement of the body to a position inwhich the head portions engage portions of said flanges between saidpairs of notches; a spring biased member movable into one of said pairsof notches at said position for releasably latching said head portionsagainst disengagement movement with respect to said portions of saidflanges; and digitally engageable means for manually moving said memberto a released position.

9. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including arail having lateral flanges with spaced confronting edges andcooperating to form a longitudinally extending T-slot, said edges havingtransversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches spaced atintervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body;a central stud swivelled in said body, and fixed end studs on oppositesides of said central stud, each of said studs having an end headportion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being sospaced that their head portions may be inserted through separate pairsof said notches to position said body against said flanges and enablemovement of the body to a position in which the head portions engageportions of said flanges between said pairs of notches; and a springbiased member movable into one of said pair of notches at said positionfor releasably latching said head portions against disengagementmovement with respect to said portions of said flanges.

10. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including arail having collateral flanges with spaced confronting edges andcooperating to form a longitudinally extending T-slot, said edges havingtransversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches at spacedintervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body;a plurality of spaced studs projecting from said body, each of saidstuds having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduceddiameter, said studs being so spaced that their head portions may beinserted through separate pairs of said notches to position said bodyagainst said flanges and enable movement of the body to a position inwhich the head portions engage portions of said flanges; and a springbiased member movable into one of said pair of notches at said positionfor releasably latching said head portions against disengagementmovement with respect to said portions of said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,934,697 Butterworth Nov. 14, 1933 2,052,914 Williams Sept. 1, 19362,422,693 McArthur June 24, 1947 2,688,289 Sterling Sept. 7, 1954

